Variable stroke mechanism



NOV- 5 1946 R. H. BREITHER ETAL 2,410,708

VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irl/van Z075 l F NicaZau/s.

N0V 5 1945 R. H. BREiTHER ETAL 2,410,708

VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 70a, l

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l" u 11u www i MUNI 0. /l l [nz/enfans' Robert! f( Breil/er Nov. 5, 1946. R H. RRERRER Rm 2,410,708

VARIABLE S TROKE MECHANI SM Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT 4OFFICE VARIABLE STROKE MECHANISM Chicago, Ill.

Application July 18, 1941, Serial No. 403,002

9 Claims. 1

This invention pertains broadly lto mechanical movements and more particularly to step by step ratchet advancing means such as may be used -with various kinds of indicating or contro apparatus, for amusement devices.

A principal object of the invention is provision of a variable stroke step up mechanism especially suited for use with score indicators and the like in connection with amusement and game apparatus including a score indicator operated in a relatively step by step fashion by means such as a pawl and ratchet mechanism.

More particularly stated it is an important object of the invention to provide an electrically operated stroke limiting device moved into a plurality of positions with respect to a driving pawl or a ratchet advancing mechanism whereby the stroke of the pawl may be predetermined between minimum and maximum limits.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a yieldable driving connection between the pawl and the actuating means therefor whereby said actuating means may operate in a full stroke or full power range notwithstanding the fact that the pawl driven thereby may be limited in its movement by the aforesaid selectively operable stroke limiting means.

Still more specifically stated, it 1s an object of the invention to provide in combination an indicator adapted to be moved a maximum amount by a driving pawl or the like, an electrical device to move the pawl in its full driving-stroke, and a variable stroke device movable into various positions with respect to the pawl to permit or prevent maximum movement or stroke'of the pawl, as desired, whereby the movement of the indicator may Vbe selectively controlled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide as the driving means for the aforesaid pawl, an electromagnetic solenoid and a yieldable driv- -ing connection between the pawl and the solenoid whereby the plunger of the solenoid may be moved through its full range or stroke notwithstanding the fact that the pawl may be limited to less than its full stroke by the variable stroke device, one of the purposes of this arrangement being to maintain and permit full stroke movement of the solenoid plunger for purposes of maximum operating eiliciency.

It is also an object to provide in combination with a ball playing game an electro-magnetically controlled score device and means controlled by a ball switch for actuating the same, together with an electro-magnetically controlled strokevarying device for the score device and also con- (Cl. 'I4-142) trolled by a ball-controlled value switch, such that the score value may be controlled variously in playing the game by the value switch.

A further object is to provide an automatic lock for a score ratchet mechanism, such that during movements of the score device from an advanced to a zero position, various operating pawls are held ineffective either until the ratchet device reaches zero, or until the ratchet device is first steppedaway from zero.

Other advantages, novel aspects and features of improvement in the invention relate to details of construction as well as the mode of operation and cooperative relationship of the component parts of the preferred illustrative embodiment shown in the appended drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective' view of a complete variable stroke and step by step indicator combination;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the device of Fig. 1 showing the parts in a, certain operated position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the device of Fig. 1 with the parts in a diiferent operating position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the device of Fig. 1, modified to include additional safety features and illustrating the reset position of certain parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the additional safety pawl structure;

Fig. 6 is a, top plan fragment of the showing of Fig. 5, vomitting the ratchet disc of the latter view.

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram.

As viewed in Fig. 1 there is provided a step by step indicating unit including an upright mounting plate I0 upon which is journaled a horizontal shaft Il to which is affixed a ratchet disc I2 rotating in a plane parallel with the plate. On an opposite side of the plate is an indicating member in the form of a disc I3 upon which are a plurality of indicia characters I4, the disc being xed on shaft Il forrotation therewith.

Means for moving the indicating disc in a step by step fashion include a main driving lever I6 pivoted on plate I0 by means of pivot l1. At the upper end of lever I6 is a ratchet pawl I8 having an offset nose I9 (Figs. 2 and 3 also) adapted 50 to engage in the teeth |2a of ratchet disc l2 when lever I6 is pivoted in a clockwise direction,

and adapted to drag ineffectively over the teeth |2a when lever I6 is pivoted reversely in an anticlockwise direction.

55 Driving lever i6 is urged into a normal posi- 3 tion by means of a large spring 20 having one end 20a attached to 8 Pin on an offset Ita on the pawl Il so as to have the dual effect of pivoting pawl Il in a clockwise direction to urge the nose I9 thereof into positive engagement with the teeth I2a, and as well to urge lever IB in a clockwise direction, such movement of the main lever i6 being limited by an adjustable stop screw 2I mounted in a bracket 22 on plate III and having an end adapted to bear against an oilset lio at the bottom of lever IB.

The ratchet disc I2 is normally urged into ay starting position by a coil spring 23 having one end 22a tixed to shaft Il by a cotter pin 24 which also retains the suing on shaft II, the opposite end 28h o1' the spring bearing against the pivot pin Il forondrivinslever IB.

As the ratchet disc I2 is advanced in a clockwise direction by driving means presently to be described, spring I2 is tensioned in an eifort to restore the disc to its starting position, however, such return or retrograde movement of the disc is prevented by a releasable stop pawl 30 pivoted on plate III as at II and having a nose portion lla (see Figs. 2 and 3 also) disposed opposite the nose I9 of the driving pawl and engaging in teeth Ila normally to prevent such retrograde movement. The stop pawl 30 is normally urged by spring 20 to dispose nose 30a thereof in engagement with teeth I2a, this being accomplished by attaching the opposite end 20D or the spring 20 to a pin 32 on an oil'set 30h oi' the stop pawl.

By pivoting the stop pawl 30 in a clockwise direction the nose 3io thereof is withdrawn from teeth I2a and if the driving pawl I8 is similarly raised from the teeth, the' disc I2 may rotate in an anti-clockwise direction back fto starting position, which position is determined by a iixed stop pin Il on the back side of plate I and which is adapted to engage a stopping pin 3l on disc I 2.

The stop pawl may be withdrawn from latching or stopping Doeltion by action of an electromagnetic solenoid Il having its plunger II pivotally connected is at l2 to a second offset arm c on the stop pawl 3l, a pin I3 limiting movement of plunger 4I, and hence a pawl l0 in an anti-clockwise direction.

As will be described in detail hereinafter, energizatio'n of the reset solenoid 4I! rocks the stop pawl Il to removed nose 30a thereof from teeth a,

I2a; however in order to permit, the disc I2 to return to starting position, it is also necessary to raise the driving pawl I8, and to this end the oilset portion )la of the stop pawl is provided with an additional otl'set finger 30d which underlle linger lla on the oilset nose I9 of the driving pawl soV as to raise the latter when finger lld rais responsive to a clockwise or releasing movement of the pawl 30 upon energization of solenoid Il. Thus the disc I2 is free for rotation by spring 2l to a starting position.

In order to assure positively accurate displacement of the disc I2 in the advancing direction, and to prevent fraudulent operation of such a device where it is used in connection with a score indicator or the like, there is provided a safety pawl I pivoted as at 30X on the offset Ib of the stop pawl, this safety pawl having an offset nose 45a which overlies the offset I9 on the driving pawl Il when in normal position, thus limiting the vertical displacement possible to the pawl Il when in said normal position. A slot Il receives a slot pin l1 upon which finger 45h of the safety pawl rests in normal position.

When the reset solenoid 40 is energized to pivot the reset pawl l0 in a clockwise direction, the safety pawl 45 moves toward the right in a nearly linear displacement to withdraw the stop nose 45a thereof from above the nose I9 on the driving pawl thereby permitting the latter to be raised from engagement with teeth I2a. The location of the pivot 30X with respect to the other reference points of movement of the parts concerned, permits the aforesaid linear movement.

The primary purpose of the safety pawl It and associated parts is that of preventing the driving pawl I8 from being thrown upwardly out of engagement with the teeth |2a when the driving pawl reaches the end of its advancing stroke. If it were not for the blocking effect of the safety nose 15a, momentum imparted to the disc I2 and associated parts by driving action of pawl I8 would be suilicient in most instances to cause the nose portion I9 on the driving pawl to be cammed upwardly so that the disc would advance one or more teeth beyond the position into which it would ordinarily advance but for such camming action. Sometimes it is possible by pounding or abruptly moving the device upon which the plate II) is mounted, as in a game apparatus or the like, that such camming of the driving pawl may be deliberately and fraudulently eifected to achieve a higher score or indication than would otherwise be possible. Safety means 4I prevents such camming of the driving pawl in the manner described.

Means for oscillating or actuating the driving lever I6 includes a driving solenoid 50 having a plunger 5I pivotally connected as at 52 to the lower end of a dog-leg lever 53, which is pivoted as at 54 on lever I6. Spring means 55 is attached at one end to a pin 56 at the bend or bight of the dog-leg lever, while the opposite end of the spring is attached to a pin 5l on lever I6 to urge the dogleg lever in a clockwise direction to a normal position determined by the oil'set I 6a on lever Il.

The dog-leg spring 55 is of sufficient strength normally to prevent pivotal movement of the dogleg lever when the plunger 5I is attracted toward the right by energization of solenoid 50. However, should the lever IIi be restrained against pivotal movement, the spring 55 would permit the dog-leg lever to break away or pivot at M so that the plunger 5I could make its normal lull stroke into the bore of solenoid 5I).

The foregoing breakaway4 feature of the connection between the driving lever IB and the driving solenoid 5I! is important in connection with the variable stroke mechanism presently to be described, it being understood moreover that it is desirable for purposes of eillciency to permit the plunger 5| to make its full stroke for the reason that the electromagnetic eiliciency oi the solenoid, and more particularly the pull on the plunger 5I, increases up to a certain point as the plunger 5I is drawn into the borel of the solenoid winding. This arrangement also increases the mechanical efficiency of the pawl and ratchet driving means and assures positive action of the latter.

In its normal operating stroke the lever Il draws` the driving pawl I8 backward (toward the left) a plurality of teeth, say four, so that on the advancing stroke (toward the right of pawl I8) the disc I2 Will be rotated a distance corresponding to four of the teeth I 2a.

In order to selectively control the distance or displacement through which the ratchet disc I2 may move at a given time, there is provided a means for limiting the stroke of the driving mechanism, particularly the lever I6, to an amount equivalently less than the predetermined number of teeth, in this instance four.

Variable stroke means include a mounting plate 69 which may desirably be attached as at 6I to the plate I0, there being a shaft 62 journaled on plate 69 and carrying a variable stroke disc 63 which is normally urged in an anti-clockwise direction by a coil spring 64 having one end 65 fixed to the shaft 62 by means of a cotter pin 66, while the opposite end 61 of the spring bears against a pin 68 on an advancing lever 69 pivotally mounted on the pin 68 which extends through the lever and is fixed on plate 69.

Stopping formations are placed at various radial distances from the center of rotation of disc 63 for engagement with the driving lever I6 to limit the stroke thereof. These movement limiting formations are preferably in theform of relatively offset surfaces or edge portions 19, 19a, 19h, and 19e, each of which is at a successively lesser radial distance from the first edge portion 19, than its predecessor.

By rotative movement of the variable stroke plate 63 under control of mechanism hereinafter to be described, the relatively offset stop or limiting edges 19, 19o etc. may be positioned selectively opposite the path of movement of an offset arm |6b on the main driving lever I6 of the step up unit. The stopping offset 19o which is at the least radial distance from the center of rotation of disc 63 will permit the greatest pivotal movement of lever I6 in an anti-clockwise direction, whereas the first stop edge or means 19 when positioned in the path of the offset I6b, will permit the least pivotal movement of lever I6.

It will be apparent that the number of the stopping formations or edge portions 19, 19a, etc. may be multiplied as desired.

In order to selectively position the disc 63 for the purpose aforesaid there is provided driving means in the form of an advancing solenoid having a plunger 16 pivotally connected as at 11 to the lower end of lever 69 to pivot the latter in anti-'clockwise direction when the solenoid 15 is energized.

Mounted pivotally as at 18 at the upper part` of lever 69 isan advancing pawl '19 having an offset 89 disposed to engage in teeth 63a, in disc 63. A spring 8| is anchored at one end on pin 92 on the pawl 19 and at its opposite end on the pivot pin 68 for lever 69 with the effect of pivoting the pawl 19 in a clockwise direction to normally dispose the offset nose portion 89 thereof in the teeth 63a of the variable stroke disc.

Lever 69 is disposed in its normal position of Fig. 1 by action of a spring 63 anchored at one end on a pin 84 on mounting plate 69 and at lts opposite end on a pin 85-at the upper end of lever 69 thus urging the latter in a clockwise direction and thus withdrawing the solenoid plunger 16 into its outer normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

Each time solenoid 15 is energized lever 69 pivots in -an anti-clockwise direction to draw the driving pawl 19 toward the left so that the nose portion 99 thereof may engage with the last tooth 63a in an anti-clockwise direction, and upon deenergization of solenoid 15 the action of spring 83 in restoring lever 69 in a clockwise direction will cause the pawl 19 to urge the variable stroke disc 63 in a clockwise direction, thus tensioning its spring 64.

Means for preventing retrograde movement of vthe variable stroke disc includes the provision of a stop pawl 99- pivoted on pin means 9| on plate 69 and having an offset stopping nose 92 engageable in teeth 63a beneath an offset 99a on pawl 19. The stop pawl 99 has an arm 99a drlvingly connected as at 93 with a solenoid plunger 94 of the selecting solenoid 95. A spring 96 coiled around the pin 9| has one of its ends 96a held against a stop pin 91 for a plunger 94, while its opposite end 96h engages the pawl 99 eccentricaily of its pivotal axis and urges the pawl in a clockwise direction so as to dispose the stopping nose 92 thereof in teeth 63a.

Thus when the driving lever 69 is actuated by energization of solenoid 15 as aforesaid, the nose 92 on the stopping pawl rides in teeth 63a and prevents retrograde or anti-clockwise movement of the disc 63.

Means for selectively effecting anti-clockwise movement 0f the variable stroke disc, includes the selecting solenoid and its connections with the stop pawl 99 such that upon energization of the solenoid 95 nose 92 of the stop pawl 99 is raised from engagement with the disc teeth 63a, nose 92 also engaging the finger 99a on the driving pawl 19 to raise the latter and particularly the offset noseportion 99 thereof free of teeth 63a so that the disc 63 may rotate in an anti-clockwise direction a distance determined by the length of time the stop pawl 99 is pivoted into withdrawn position by energization of solenoid 95.

A sufficient clearancels allowed between the nose 92 of the stopping pawl and the offset 69a on the driving pawl 19 to permit of intermittent operations of solenoid plunger 94 sufllcient to assure movement of disc 63 of one tooth at a time. The aforesaid clearance requires that plunger 94 go almost to the end of the stroke before the offset 69a is engaged and raised; thus when solenoid 95 is de-energized, offset 89a will drop back very quickly by action of spring 8| and re-engage in teeth 63a, since 99a is not raised as far from teeth 63a as nose 92. Or if desired. solenoid 94 may be held .in attracted position by continued energization of coil 95 a time sufficient to permit disc 63 to rotate clockwise to the limit of 'its movement, which limit is determined by offset projections 63h on disc 63 disposed to strike against ears 69a on plate 69 for this purpose.

An additional safety feature is shown in the modification of Fig. 4 and the explanatory detail views of Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 4 the construction of the main stepping unit is the same as heretofore described with the exception that there is an added safety pawl |99 pivoted on plate I9 as at I9| and having an offset finger |92 projected by clockwise movement of the pawl underneath offset nose portion 39a of the reset pawl to hold the latter in elevated or withdrawn position along with driving pawl I8 so that there will be no interference with the return movement of the ratchet disc I2 by its spring 23. In this sense the safety pawl 99 constitutes a locking device adapted to maintain both the driving and reset pawls in ineffective position until the indicating dial, and hence the associated ratchet disc I2, is restored to normal position, release of the locking pawl being effected by engagement of pin means |93 with the edge of pawl |99 to move the latter in anti-clockwise direction against the tension of its spring |94, which spring normally urges the pawl in a clockwise direction to thrust the locking nose |92 thereof into blocking position beneath the other pawls as aforesaid.

The relationship of the blocking pawls to the advancing and reset pawls is further clarified in Figs. 5 and 6.

Summary of operation In Fig. 7 there is shown a schematic arrangement of the parts including a circuit diagram, which is intended only by way of example to illustrate one arrangement for actuating the indicating mechanism. In this diagram it will be observed that a source of power has been indicated by the conventional representation of a battery B one side of which is connected to a common return or ground G4'. It is to be understood that any suitable source oi' power may be utilized in such exemplary circuit arrangement.

Assuming that the indicator dial I3 has been left in an advanced position, and that the indicating unit is associated with a ball playing form of game apparatus, another player may approach the apparatus and close a switch |I completing a circuit via conductor II| to the reset solenoid 40 thereby energizing the latter to rock the reset pawl 30 to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the nose portion 30a thereof withdrawn from the teeth |2a of the ratchet disc I2. Finger 30d on the reset pawl will also be elevated engaging the underside of the nose portion or oiset ISa on the driving pawl I8 and raising the latter from engagement with |2a, thus freeing the disc I2 for anti-clockwise movement under urgence of its spring 23 back to a starting position which will be determined by an engagement of the stop pin |03 with the edge of the safety or locking pawl |00 when the latter moves to the limit of its anticlockwise range of movement determined by an ear |05 on plate I0.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, for example, the limit of such return movement of the ratchet disc I2 would be determined by engagement of the stop pin 34 with stationary stop pin 33 on plate I0.

In the foregoing resetting operation of the ernbodiment of Fig. 4, it will be observedrthat the locking nose |02 on the locking pawl is urged beneath the reset pawl, but will be automatically withdrawn when disc |2 is reset.

Referring again to Fig. '7, the reset or selecting solenoid 85 for the variable stroke unit may be simultaneously energized with reset coil 40 pro` vided a switch I I2 is moved into engagement with contact ||3 to complete an energizing circuit via conductor Ill from solenoid 95 through switch III) to ground. In such an event (referring to Fig. 1) plunger 94 of solenoid 95 would be attracted downwardly rocking arm 90 so as to raise the nose 92 from teeth 63a against the underside of the projection 00a on the driving pawl for the disc 63 thereby raising the latter also from engagement with teeth 63a and permitting the disc 63 to be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by spring 64, which would present the greatest or nearest radial stopping formation or edge in a, position of alignment with the offset I6b on the driving lever I6 of the step-up unit, thus permitting the latter to make only its minimum stroke movement as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Such a minimum stroke of lever I6 could be caused by engagement with a playing piece or ball 5 (Fig. '7) with switch means IIB closing a circuit via conductor I to energize the driving solenoid 50 and cause the plunger 5I to be fully attracted as in Fig. 2 with the offset stopping projection IBb bearing against stop formation 10 restored to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 2 wherein it will be observed that the dog-leg or break-away arm 53 is pivoted out of its normal position against the yieldable connection. or spring 55.

Assuming a further play of the game apparatus 5 wherein another ball |20 engages and closes a. switch 2| to complete a circuit via conductor |22 to the driving solenoid 15 for the variable stroke driving lever B9, this would cause movement of the plunger 16 (Figs. i or 3, also) towards the right pivoting the lever 69 in an anticlockwise direction and causing a pawl 19 to slip ineffectively back toward the left over the teeth 63a on the variable stroke disc until the plunger 16 had reached the limit of its attracted movement, whereupon the spring 83 (assuming then solenoid I5 to be deenergized as by opening of switch |2I) would again urge the lever 59 in a clockwise direction with the nose 80 of driving pawl 19 caught in the teeth 63a to rotate the disc 63 in a clockwise direction until the stop formation or notch 10c of least radius, and hence greatest permissible stroke, is rocked into position opposite the stopping offset IBD and the main driving lever I6 of the step unit as shown in Fig. 3. This would correspond to a, high score combination so that the next time a ball |I5 were to close switch IIB, the score disc would be stepped a maximum amount, for example the distance of four teeth.

If in the foregoing situation, another ball |25 were to engage and close a switch |26, circuit would Ibe closed from the solenoid 95 to raise the reset arm 90 and the driving pawl 19 from teeth 63a permitting an amount of anti-clockwise movement of disc 63 for a length of time depending upon how long the switch |26 remains closed. If desired the ball |25 may be arranged to transiently engage switch |26 thereby closing it only momentarily, in which event the disc G3 would have time to move under urgence of spring 54 a distance of only one of the teeth 63a, thus presenting the stop formation or notch 10b opposite the stop formation IEb on the main driving lever. Another such momentary closing of switch |26 would permit another short movement of the disc 63 to present the next stop formation 10o in stopping position, and so on.

The foregoing illustrative arrangement of Fig. 7 is merely exemplary of one successfully employed embodiment, and it will be appreciated that other arrangements may be utilized and are contemplated. Apart from the novel combination oi ball switches to control means for varying the stroke on a stroke-operated score device, importance at- 55 taches to the more detailed feature whereby reset solenoid 40 on the stopping unit is energizable to permit the score indicator disc I3 and its driving disc I2 to be restored to a normal starting position while the driving solenoid 50 is ener- 0 gizable by any means to advance the disc I2 one or more steps depending upon the length of stroke the lever I6 is permitted to take.` The stroke of lever I6 is governed by the position of the disc B3, and the reset solenoid 55 is energizable 55 for a relatively prolonged period (quite brief in practice) to permit the disc 63 to move in anticlockwise direction the limit of its range until the formation I0 is in stopping position, which corresponds to the shortest possible stroke for 70 the step-up lever. A briefer or momentary energization of solenoid 95 would permit the disc 63 to move less than its full range in anti-clockwise direction to present one of the intermediate stopping formations in stop position.

Another mode of operation for the variable stroke un'it resides in adjusting the length of the stroke of the lever 69 by means of a set-screw 16a so that the pawl 19 would move toward the right a distance of only one tooth. In this manner each energization of the solenoid 15 would correspond to a movement of one of the stop formations 10c, so that if the solenoid 95 were energized by any means to permit disc 63 to move its entire range to a starting position in which the formation 10 would be in stopping position opposite the oiset lBb, then each energization of solenoid would eiect a step by step movement of disc 63 in the opposite direction to present the intermediate stop formations in succession in stopping position. The circuit connections of Fig. 7 may be utilized without change to procure this operation.

The utility of the locking pawl |00 resides in the fact that fraudulent interference with the normal operation of the mechanism is prevented thereby in -those instances where the apparatus is jarred or pounded deliberately with the object of causing the pawls I0 or 30 to reseat before the disc l2 has had time to move all the way back to zero position, thus leaving the lapparatus standing with an advanced score instead of a zero score. The locking pawl remains in locking condition once the reset mechanism is actuated, and cannot be withdrawn from lockingposition until the disc moves into zero position, as by action of .the pin |03; or, in an optional arrangement as when the step-up mechanism is first actuated after the device has been reset. The latter arrangement has advantages in some installations because no amount of abuse of the apparatus can cause a dislodgement of the ratchet disc I2 and associated parts from zero position where pin |03 is removed.

A further utility in the locking arrangement resides in the fact that heretofore certain additional means, such as a dash-pot or other slowacting device has been required to disable the scoring circuits during the time the score dials and ratchets were returning to zero to prevent the possibility of playing the game or apparatus during the interval required for transit of the dial back to zero, as when .the player pushes a starting button or operates a coin slide-if the game happens to be coin-controlled-before the reset parts are fully restored to zero position. By locking the essential operating parts as aforesaid, resort Ito expediencies like the dash pot is avoided, with a result which is at once cheaper, simpler, and more reliable.

While the foregoing description is specific to cer-tain details of construction and operation of the practical embodiment shown, it is to be understood that `the appended claims contemplate and include equivalent construction and modes of operation coming Within their scope and fair intent.

We claim:

1. In a variable stroke device a main operating lever mounted for oscillation, means for oscillating said main lever, and variable stroke means including a stop member positioned for movement adjacent said main lever and having a plurality of stop formations disposed at varying radial distances from the center of pivotal movement of said member and each positionable by movement of said stop member into a stopping position opposite a portion of said main lever to limit the movement of the latter in one direction, together with means for selectively moving said stop member and including an electromagnetic pawl means cooperable therewith to advance said member in one direction, means yieldably urging said member in an opposite direction, releasable holding pawl means normally preventing said opposite movement, and electromagnetic pawl means energizable to permit release of said holding means and step by step movement of said stop member in said opposite direction.

2. Indicatng mechanism comprising in combination a rotatable ratchet disc, an oscillable driving pawl for advancing said disc in a given direction, means tending to rotate said disc in an opposite direction, releasable holding means normally restraining said disc in said opposite movement, means including a reciprocable member a1- ways movable in a maximum displacement for oscillating said pawl means, a variable stroke member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the axis of movement of said ratchet disc and at a point displaced in a radial sense from the center of oscillation of said driving pawl, said variable stroke member having a plurality of stop formations disposed at varying radial distances from the center of movement thereof opposite said oscillable pawl means and each adapted to be moved into a position of stopping engagement with the latter .to limit the strokes thereof, means for eilecting movement in opposite directions of said variable stroke member to selectively position said stop formations for -the purpose aforesaid, and means providing a yieldable driving connection between said oscillable pawl means and said reciprocable member vto permit the latter to move its maximum displacement notwithstanding limitations of movement of the oscillable pawl means, together with means for eiecting release of said holding means.

3. In a. device of the class described including a pawl and ratchet advancing means movable back and forth to eiect advance of an indicator or lthe like, variable stroke mechanism comprising: a stop member mounted for movement opposite the path of movement of part of said advancing means, said stop member having a plurality stop parts disposable in positions to be engaged by and block the aforesaid part of the advancing means to limit movement of said advancing meansv different distances depending upon the position of the stop member relative to the aforesaid part of the advancing means, together with electromagnetic control means, means for selectively moving said stop member to selectively limit movement of the advancing means by blocking action as aforesaid.

4. In a pawl and ratchet drive for a rotatable member, an oscillable drive member and pawl means actuated thereby to effect rotative movement of said rotatable member, means for effecting oscillation of said drive member, stop means disposed eccentrically of the axis of oscillation of said oscillable member, a. variable stroke disc mounted for oscillation opposite said stop means about an axis approximately parallel with that of the oscillable member and having radially and peripherally oiset blocking means positionable selectively by selective movement of said variable stroke disc in blocking position opposite said stop means to limit the displacement of said drive member, spring means tending to move said variable stroke disc in one direction, ratchet means on said variable stroke disc, disengageable holding pawl means normally engaging said ratchet means to prevent movement of the variable stroke disc in said one direction, driving pawl means cooperable with said ratchet meansv 11 on said variable stroke dise to move the latter in an opposite direction, and means for selectively actuating the several pawl means aforesaid to control the movements of said rotatable member.

5. In a variable stroke device, a pivoted stop disc, means yieldably tending to move said disc in one direction, holding pawl means releasably preventing movement of said disc in said one direction, driving pawl means operable to move said disc in an opposite direction, and stop means oil'set at various radial distances with respect to the direction of pivotal movement of said disc and each adapted to be disposed in movement-limiting blocking position with respect to a stroke mechanism to be controlled by said variable stroke device, and means for actuating said pawl means to effect pivotal movement said disc to selectively position said stop means for the purpose set forth.

6. In a variable stroke step up unit, a driving lever plvoted between its ends and adapted to be moved in i'ull stroke and less than full stroke displacement, a solenoid having a plunger with predetermined operating stroke in the general direction of operating displacement of one end of said lever and situated near said end, means operatively connected with said lever on the opposite side of its pivot point from said solenoid for yieldably urging the lever in operating movement in a direction opposite to the stroke oi' the plunger, a break-away lever pivoted on said driving lever near the end thereof adjacent said plunger, spring means urging the break-away lever into a normal position in a direction opposite from lthe operating stroke of said plunger, and means operatively connecting the plunger and break-away lever to eiiect movement of the driving lever in one direction upon energization of the solenoid so that said plunger may move in full stroke notwithstanding restraint of the lever against full stroke displacement.

7. In a device of the class described, a pivoted operating lever, a solenoid having a plunger arranged to move in full stroke in a direction tangential to an arc of movement through said lever, and means providing a yieldable driving connection between said lever and plunger to permit the latter to make its full normal operating stroke notwithstanding restraint of said lever against corresponding displacement by the plunger, said means comprising a dog-leg lever pivoted near one oi' its ends on said operating lever at a point between said plunger and the pivot of the operating lever, spring means connected to the operating lever and the bight of the dog-leg urging the 12 latter into a, normal pomtion toward the operating lever and away from the plunger, means limiting movement of this dog-leg by said spring means, and pivotal connection between said plunger and dog leg near the end of the latter remote from its pivot point.

8. In a step-up unit including a ratchet disc adapted to be rotatively moved by pawl means, the combination with said dise of a driving pawl for advancing the disc in one direction, means for moving the disc in the opposite direction, a withdrawable holding pawl normally holding the disc in advanced positions against movement in said opposite direction, a safety locking pawl including a blocking portion adapted to block operative engagement oi! said driving and hold lng pawls with said disc when said locking pawl is in a certain position, means tending normalbv to move the locking pawl into said certain Dosition, means on said locking pawl engaged by said holding pawl when the latter is in operative engagement with said disc to prevent movement of the locking pawl into said certain position, but permitting said movement of the locking pawl as soon as the holding pawl is withdrawn, means for withdrawing the holding and driving pawls, together, and means actuated by said disc in moving in said opposite direction for restoring said locking pawl from said certain position to a normal non-locking position.

9. In a step-up unit, a ratchet member, an advancing pawl for said member, means normally urging said ratchet member to a starting position in a direction opposite to the advance thereof, a holding pawl normally engaged with said ratchet member to prevent movement toward starting position as aforesaid, a safety locking lever, the same yieldingly urged to disengage said holding pawl from the ratchet member and including means cooperating with said holding pawl when the locking lever is moved to a nonlocking position to be held in said position until the holding pawl is disengaged from the ratchet member, and means moved by said ratchet member to engage said locking lever and move the latter to non-locking position upon movement of the ratchet member to a predetermined position with respect to said starting position, and means for eiecting disengagement of the holding pawl with the ratchet member as aforesaid.

ROBERT H. BREITHER. HERMAN L. SEIDEN. CHARLES T. BREITENS'IEIN. FRANK G. NICOLAUS. 

